The Eddan and Emblan Blocks

Living in the city center is highly sought after—we know this. However, increasing housing supply to match demand can be a challenge. Nevertheless, it is possible to create attractive new homes through smart space utilization, sensitivity to the existing environment, and bold, innovative architectural expressions.

A stone’s throw from Linköping Cathedral and the Garden Society, Tengbom designed the award-winning Eddan and Emblan blocks. The project consists of two interconnected blocks where tradition meets modernism.

Eddan’s eleven floors

The Eddan project began in 2005 when a parking garage was proposed for the last vacant lot in the city center. The solution became a circular building that harmonized with the surrounding architecture. After several years of planning and zoning, the blocks were transferred to the municipally-owned housing company Stångåstaden, and the parking garage was transformed into housing.

Creating residential buildings might seem easier to blend into an existing older environment than a parking garage, but here, the challenge was to achieve a high development density on a limited site. Architect Jan Izikowitz, who has been involved since the project’s inception, recalls how a proposal for a 14-story building faced significant opposition. The final plan allowed for up to eleven stories, approved after workshops and dialogue with neighbors before the formal consultation process.

Stacked volumes provide contrast

Building tall structures in the city center is, as one might expect, a delicate task.

— It is challenging from an urban planning perspective since high-rises stand out and can appear imposing, says Jan Izikowitz. By stacking different volumes, the building creates a smaller-scale, nuanced, and varied impression despite its size compared to the adjacent lower high-rises.

Brick creates harmony

The taller buildings in the Eddan and Emblan blocks are divided into volumes with proportions similar to the surrounding architecture. The dynamic forms contrast with the more traditional houses nearby, which have classic gabled roofs and plastered facades. At the same time, handmade brick creates a natural connection between the two blocks and the traditional buildings.

— We aimed for different identities: one modernist and one more traditional, with familiar elements. That’s why the beautiful handmade brick is featured in both blocks.

Jan Izikowitz, architect

A lively city for everyone

Most ground floors in the blocks feature shops and offices, adding to urban life and expanding Linköping’s city center westward. The project follows high environmental ambitions, guided by Miljöbyggnad Silver standards. Social sustainability was also a key factor. Apartment sizes range from 23 to 150 square meters.

— The hope is that everyone can live here—young and old. People with substantial means, as well as those with less, should feel welcome, says Jan Izikowitz.